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North Jersey hockey this week, Feb. 27

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Justin Larkin has been stellar in between the pipes for Ramsey this season. The senior notched his seventh shutout of the year with a 23-save effort against Indian Hills in the Big North's Green Cup final.
(Photo by Saed Hindash/For The Star-Ledger)

With goal-scoring coming at a premium, Ramsey goalie Justin Larkin had to be perfect.

The senior was just that recording 23 saves, nine over the last four minutes including four key saves with the opposition's goalie pulled in favor of an extra attacker, as Ramsey, No. 8 in The Star-Ledger Top 20, outlasted Indian Hills, 1-0, in the final of the Big North Conference's Green Division Cup tournament finale on Feb. 22.

"It was one of those games you only manage one goal, so you must make zero mistakes," Ramsey coach Bob Toy said. "The last three minutes of the game Justin was under intense pressure. It was desperation hockey. They were throwing everything on the net. Justin made a fabulous toe save off of a deflection with their goalie pulled. A save there or the game changes."

Justin Larkin is 19-2-2 this season with a 1.09 goals-against average, .930 save percentage and seven shutouts.

Thomas Pyrka, Paramus CatholicChris Faytok/For The Star-Ledger

TEAM TO WATCH

Alex Fleishmann's power-play goal, assisted by Dan Sowinski and Bryan Nagy with 11:45 remaining in the third period, proved to be the decisive goal as No. 5 Paramus Catholic held on for a 4-3 victory over Ridgewood in the final of the Big North Conference's Gold Division Cup tournament Feb. 22.

"One of our goals coming in was to to win our division and the cup," Paramus Catholic coach Keith Bland said. "We thought we had a pretty good chance. Ridgewood made it close. We just came out and played together as a team. The kids are excited. The kids are confident. We're hoping to carry that into states and win."

Fleishmann leads the team in goals (27), assists (35) and points (62), but Matt Cofrancesco (26 goals) and Sowinski (25 goals) are also putting the puck in the net. Thomas Pyrka has been stellar in between the pipes.

GAMES TO WATCH

No. 3 Don Bosco will skate against St. Peter's of Jersey City in the sweet-16 of the NJSIAA Non-Public tournament today at 7:15 at the Ice Vault in Wayne. Bergen Catholic will take on St. Augustine at the Igloo in Mount Laurel at 5:40 p.m.

Tomorrow, Ramapo will take on Woodbridge, the 26th-seed which just stunned 7th-seeded Nutley, in the Public B round of 16 at the Ice Vault at 6. Ramsey awaits the winner of Wayne Hills/West Morris, looking to capture its first NJSIAA Public title since 2009. The puck drops at 7:15 at the Ice Vault.